Rising subscription revenues boosted TV sector profits in 2016, despite ad decline: StatCan

OTTAWA - The Canadian television broadcasting sector saw total operating revenues rise 0.9% to $7.5 billion in 2016, while profits before interest and taxes grew 15.9% from $732.8 million in 2015 to $849.0 million in 2016, according to newly released data from Statistics Canada.These gains were the result of a $68.3 million jump in subscription revenues, from $2.920 billion in 2015 to $2.988 billion in 2016, and a 5.8% increase in public and private subsidies from $892.9 million to $944.8 million. These increases more than offset the 0.9% decrease in air time sales and a 7.5% decline in other revenue.The private conventional television segment's share of operating revenues in the television broadcasting sector continued to shrink in 2016. This segment...